Comparing and Contrasting

Complex History – Nothing Written – No Founder – Many Sects Aryan herders invaded India – Indus River Valley – Spread language & religion – Caste System

– Polytheism – Many gods part of one supreme God – Complex Rituals – Sacrifices – Vedas – sacred text

– Reincarnation – Vegetarians – Karma – Moksha – Meditation and yoga – Dharma – Trade Spread Culture – Hinduism spread to Southeast Asia

Jainism Nonviolence Siddhartha Gautama – Sheltered Hindu Prince – Wanted to end suffering – “Buddha” “Enlightened One”

To End Suffering Four Noble Truths Suffering is part of life Being Self-centered causes suffering Eliminate attachment to achieve Nirvana Eightfold Path – the right things to do

Eightfold Path can lead to Nirvana Speech Action Livelihood Effort Mindfulness concentration Dharma – collection of teachings Memorized & Spread by Monk & Missionaries

Silk roads brought culture and economic changes to China Han Dynasty – China only ones making silk – Increased contact with the West – Buddhism appealed to ordinary people Cultural Diffusion – Spread ideas, customs, religion

India Buddhist King Asoka 269 B.C.E. Sent Missionaries to spread Buddhism Raids by Muslims destroyed Buddhism in India Changes in Hinduism Written in common languages Buddhism declined in India, but had spread to other Asian countries

Atlas of World Faiths: Hinduism, Rasamandala, Das. Arcturus Publishing Limited, Minnesota Atlas of World Faiths: Buddhism. Ganeri, Anita. Arcturus Publishing Limited, Minnesota 2008.